Travelers from around the world flock to Florida each year to visit theme parks and natural habitats, watch sporting events and relax. Tropical weather awaits visitors year round. The state covers more than 58,000 square miles in area and heat is often the common bond from the Florida panhandle down to the keys at its Southernmost point. What to wear when traveling to Florida is more often determined by where you plan to visit rather than at what time of year.

Florida Weather

There is a slight difference in temperatures by the season. Southern and Central Florida, the state's largest tourism areas, see daily highs reach into the 90s during summer months, while winter highs dip into the 70s. Northern Florida--home to cities like Jacksonville and Tallahassee--are more moderate during the winter months. Temperatures from March to November mimic the other regions of the state, but winter days are generally in the 60s. The difference is felt at night. Evening lows statewide will drop into the 40s and 50s during winter months. In the Northern regions, expect lows to dip into the 30s some evenings. While short-sleeved shirts and lightweight clothing will cover a traveler during the days no matter what season, pack a sweater, long-sleeved shirts or a fleece coat for the cooler winter nights.

Southern Florida

Miami, Naples, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers and the Florida Keys are the major travel destinations in Southern Florida. Tourists to these areas will want to let location dictate dress. Most beach areas are family-oriented, with appropriate attire including flip-flop sandals, T-shirts and beach wear. Upscale resorts and restaurants are often the only locations with specific dress codes that may dictate footwear and types of shirts and shorts. Trendy areas of Miami are home to popular nightclubs and eateries and will often times require pants and collared shirts for men or dresses or skirts for women to enter. Naples, Fort Myers and Boca Raton are more conservative communities, thanks to the large numbers of retirees who flock to these areas. So, an outfit that might work well for clubbing in South Beach may attract odd stares in Boca Raton. If you're planning on visiting the Everglades National Park, long sleeves, pants and closed-toe shoes or boots are necessary. The large swamp area is home to different species of bugs and snakes and protection is recommended to stay safe from bites.

Central Florida

The Orlando and Tampa metropolitan areas are home to the largest theme parks in America. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando, Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa are all within an hour's drive. These parks are family-oriented and seldom require dress codes. T-shirts and shorts make up the basis of dress in these areas. Comfortable shoes are a must, as each of the theme parks require a great deal of walking. Hats are also recommended to provide cover from the sun. While Disney World and Universal Studios are geared toward family fun, each has handful of upscale dining options with specific dress codes. For example, The Palm Restaurant and Emeril's at Universal, and Bistro de Paris and Fulton's Crab House mandate pants (clean jeans are acceptable), collared shirts and dresses or skirts. These restaurants also prohibit beach attire and cutoffs.

Northern Florida

There are two major tourist draws to the Northern parts of Florida--gulf beaches and football. The panhandle is home to two major beach towns--Panama City and Destin/Fort Walton Beach. Northern Florida is also home to college football powers Florida State University in Tallahassee and Gainesville's University of Florida. Visitors to the beach areas will find that beachwear reigns as the tourist's clothing of choice. Football fans will find that both universities have outdoor arenas, which means exposure to the elements. Each stadium seats more than 80,000 fans and neither has a great deal of room to escape indoors if it rains. Prepare for heat inside the stadium to be more intense. The density of people, combined with stadium lights and lack of air circulation will often cause the stadium to feel 10-20 degrees warmer than the actual temperature. Dress for comfort, but remember that attire at these games is more about team loyalty than anything else.

References

About the Author

Jared Paventi is the communications director for a disease-related nonprofit in the Northeast. He holds a master's degree from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication and a bachelor's degree from St. Bonaventure University. He also writes a food appreciation blog: Al Dente.